November 3, 2010
We have been taking some short trips around Taipei city and Taipei county during the last couple of weeks. A great thing about Taipei is that it never fails to provide a surprising delight around any corner. We thought we would give you some quick tastes.
Surprise # 1....Yes, they do have real wood pizza ovens in Taipei. Actually, a place that we like very much. It is called So-Free. The dough is made on site and so is the honey and vinegar drink choice that is quite refreshing in hot weather. There a couple of benches for about ten seats outdoors, you can sit in the small park across the street or dash home on you bicycle and still eat hot pizza. Our favorites are smoked cheese and mushroom pesto -- no meat here.
Surprise # 2...Yes, the beautiful Buddhist temple at the end of the Bannan line in Yongning is only a fifteen minute walk from the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station...if you take a bus or taxi or if you can read the signs. Since we could do none of the above, we ended up doing a little pilgrimage on foot. The temple is about half way up a lovely mountain that over looks the city. To get there you have to walk through a factory district and then up a stone path. After we left the town the road forked and we took the path less traveled. It was a warm humid day and as we neared the half-way mark we stopped for a water break. We weren't the oldest nor the youngest and as we started getting near the temple, we noticed that a number of people were walking down the mountain. They looked fresh, we looked beat. We were a little discourage until we realized that they had taken buses or taxis to the stop and were walking down. It certainly was worth the walk and we appreciated the ride back in the air conditioned taxi very much.
Surprise # 3...Treasure Hill...Yes, it is a treasure. We live close to a shopping area called Gongguan. It has a busy night market and all kinds of shops and restaurants. We saw a phamphlet on an area called Treasure Hill, an area that was originally a KMT squatters village that is becoming an artisit haven. It also overlooks Xindian Stream with a bike path that meanders along the bank. On Monday we rode our bikes to Gonguan and then walked to Treasure Hill. The Buddist Temple is one of the three oldest temples in Taipei and was established before the city of Taipei. The squatters village is being renovated int the style of the origiinal village thanks to the efforts of local citizens and NTU students. (Treasyre Hill is the site of an outdoor film festival called the Urban Nomad Film Festival. It's coming up this Saturday!) We had a delightful walk along the river in the afternoon sun. Cranes and other birds were feeding in the stream and we were only a short walk from the hectic markets of Gongguan. Many people were using the bike path for riding bikes, walking babies or just strolling near the river. It was a great afternoon.
Up for some surprises? Why don't you consider visiting us? Only 8 more months to go.
Claude and Susan
